National / World

Chennai, Feb 14 (PTI): In fast paced developments, Sasikala loyalist Edappady K Palaniswami was today elected as Legislature Party Leader following the conviction of the AIADMK general secretary, who sacked rebel leader O Panneerselvam from the party's primary membership. "We have sent a letter staking claim to form Amma's government," said Palaniswami.

His election came at an emergency meeting called by Sasikala at a resort here within hours of the Supreme Court upholding a Bengaluru trial court order convicting her in the disproportionate assets case, dealing a body blow to her hopes of becoming the Chief Minister. Palaniswami, a known Sasikala loyalist and a five-time MLA, is the party's strongman from Salem district and currently holds the portfolios of Highways, Public Works and Minor Ports.

He was Minister in the previous Jayalalithaa-led cabinet also and continued with the same portfolios. He was retained in 2016, both by Jayalalithaa and later by her successor Panneerselvam, who has since raised a banner of revolt against Sasikala for allegedly forcing him to step down from chief ministership. Minutes after after the apex court delivered the verdict, Sasikala went into a huddle with her MLAs to decide on the future course of action.

Security has been strengthened across the state after the verdict. Police presence has been stepped up at the resort here, about 80 kms from Chennai, where MLAs supporting her are housed since the past few days. Sasikala herself stayed overnight at the resort. The apex court today quashed the Karnataka High Court verdict that had acquitted Sasikala in the disproportionate assets case and asked her to surrender herself forthwith.

Sasikala was elected AIADMK Legislature Party Leader on February 5, paving the way for her becoming Chief Minister. Two days later, Pannerselvam rebelled against her. Sasikala today sacked Panneerselvam, who has been continuing as caretaker Chief Minister, from the AIADMK's primary membership.

Additional police personnel have been deployed in and around the resort amid expectations that Sasikala will leave for Bengaluru to surrender in the trial court as per the apex court order.

Comment on this article

BABA, BANGALORE

Wed, Feb 15 2017

As students in Madras in the 1950s, we used to listen to C N Annadurai on the Marina beach on Sundays. He had half a dozen lieutenants. Altogether, their are total assets at that time were just a few thousand rupees. I see a few of those lieutenants today as old men leading political formations in Tamil Nadu. Their wealth is to be measured in billions. You need a million lifetimes to actually earn such wealth. I need not comment any further. Things are obvious . The story is similar in the rest of India a country where wealth is worshipped as god or goddess irrespective of the manner in which you acquire that wealth. Some politicians have an alternate clever approach. They give large chunks of resources to their businessmen friends who become billionaires. With a dozen billionaire friends, the politician does need to have money of his own.

Anticorrupt, Mangalore, Kuwait

Satya, Mangalore

Tue, Feb 14 2017

Subramaiam Swamy is taking undue credit for the conviction. Yes, he did file a case initially, but later lost interest as he was again getting pally with Jayalalitha and Co. It is his hobby to jump camps every second day. He was not at all keen in pursuing the matter after the acquittal by the Karnataka High court. It is the Karnataka government who should get credit now for the conviction and not Swamy.

Flavian dsouza, chik/bengaluru

Tue, Feb 14 2017

From four months nothing is happening in TN ..After ammas death , jalkatu, oil spill and now this drama . This will again continue for a few more weeks depending on Palaswami's . If he supports BJP , governor will call a floor test right away if not they will say OPS sacking is not constitutional and EC has not approved it!!! why this kolavari kolvari di

HENRY MISQUITH, Suratkal/ M'lore/Bahrain

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Title : Panneerselvam expelled, Palaniswami is AIADMK legislature party leader

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